How to take a screenshot on Mac

Making a Mac screenshot is a very simple and quick operation, but for those who have never used this operating system it may seem complicated. In this article we will explain how to make a Mac screenshot in a few steps.

What does "screenshot" mean?

A screenshot, or screen capture, consists of capturing a static image of the computer screen. This image can then be saved and shared in various ways.

Why take a screenshot on Mac?

There are many reasons why you might want to take a Mac screenshot. For example:

• Capture an image of a website or online page;
• Show an error or technical problem to technical support;
• Capture an image that will be used in a presentation or document;
• Share a conversation or part of it;
• Capture the image of a game or application.

In general, the screenshot is useful whenever you want to acquire and preserve a static representation of what appears on your computer screen.

Method 1: Using the "Shift-Command-3" key combination

If you're looking for a simple and fast way to take a screenshot on Mac, the most common method is to use the "Shift-Command-3" key combination. This allows you to capture the entire screen of your computer in just seconds.

To use this method, follow these simple steps:

• Step 1: Press the "Shift", "Command" and "3" keys simultaneously on your Mac keyboard.
• Step 2: After pressing the keys, you will hear a sound indicating that the screenshot has been successfully captured.
• Step 3: Go to the "Desktop" folder on your Mac and you will find the screenshot file just created. The name of the file will be in the form "Screenshot [date] at [time].png".

It is important to note that when using this method, the entire screen of your computer, including any open menus or windows, will be captured. If you want to capture only a portion of the screen, you can use the second method described in the article.

In addition, if you need to take a screenshot of a specific window instead of the entire screen, you can use the "Shift-Command-4" key combination followed by the space bar and then click on the window you want to capture.

Using "Shift-Command-3" is a quick and easy way to take a screenshot on Mac, but remember that there are other methods available if you need more customization options.

Method 3: Using the "Screenshot" application

Another simple way to take a screenshot on your Mac is to use the pre-installed "Screenshot" application on the operating system. Follow these steps:

1. Open the "Screenshot" application. You can find it in the "Utility" folder inside the "Applications" folder.
2. Choose the type of screenshot you want to take from the list of available options:

• Entire screen screenshot: captures the entire screen of your Mac.
• Window screenshot: captures only the selected window. You will need to click on the window to select it.
• Screen portion screenshot: allows you to manually select a specific area of the screen to capture.

This method is fast and easy to use, and is particularly useful if you need to capture only a window or a portion of the screen. Additionally, the "Screenshot" application allows you to customize settings to fit your specific needs.

How to modify default screenshot parameters.

If you are an experienced Mac user, you may want to customize your default screenshot parameters. For example, you may want to change the destination folder where your screenshots are saved or set a custom keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot.

Changing the destination folder

To change the destination folder where your screenshots are saved, follow these steps:

1. Open the "Terminal" application. You can find it in the "Utilities" folder within the "Applications" folder.
2. Type the following command and press Enter: defaults write com.apple.screencapture location /path/to/new/folder
3. Replace "/path/to/new/folder" with the path of the new folder where you want to save your screenshots. Make sure to enter the full path, such as "/Users/yourname/Documents/Screenshots".
4. Restart the screenshot service by typing the following command and pressing Enter: killall SystemUIServer

Now all new screenshots will automatically be saved in the new folder you specified.

Changing the keyboard shortcut

If you want to use a custom keyboard shortcut for taking a screenshot, follow these steps:

1. Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple icon in the menu bar and selecting "System Preferences".
2. Click on "Keyboard" and then on the "Shortcuts" tab.
3. In the left column, select "Screenshots" and then click on the "+" button in the right column.
4. Enter the name of your new screenshot command and the keyboard shortcut you want to use. For example, you can enter "Custom Screenshot" as the name and use the "Command + Shift + S" keys as the keyboard shortcut.

Now you can use your new keyboard shortcut to capture a custom screenshot at any time.

Conclusion

As you have seen, modifying the default parameters of your Mac screenshots is a simple operation that requires few steps. By customizing the default parameters, you can save time and improve productivity when using your computer. Try following our tips and see how easy it can be!